Driver slain in robbery attempt

SOUTH SIDE — A would-be robber fatally shot a man who was picking up his girlfriend late Tuesday on the South Side, police said.

The shooting occurred shortly after 11 p.m. in the 7700 block of South Ashland Avenue in the city's Gresham neighborhood, police said.

Beauford Nelson, 32, was confronted outside Jazzin Lavell's Executive Salon. He tried to speed away, but the gunman opened fire, striking him in the chest. The SUV careered across Ashland, struck a fence and flipped over, coming to rest in the 1500 block of East 78th Street, police said.

Nelson was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday at the scene.

The woman suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from Holy Cross Hospital, police said.